The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • Silica Gel Beads: Indicator vs. Water

    Just to see what happened, I dumped a few of those beads:

    Silica gel beads - 36pctRH ambient
    Silica gel beads – 36pctRH ambient

    Into a few drops of water in a bottle cap:

    Indicating silica gel beads - saturated
    Indicating silica gel beads – saturated

    After a few days, it was obvious only the larger beads changed color and, no matter what the description said, they were not going to become any color I would recognize as green.

    While the larger ones did get darker, the smaller ones must have already been at their limit of adsorption and remained at the same shade.

    For humidity levels under about 20%, I think changing the desiccant every month or so is the only way to be sure.